Electrolytic cell.



PATENTED DBO. 1 7, 1907.

A. E. GIBBS. BLEGTROLYTIC CELL. APPLIOATION' FILED JUNE 2,1906.

IMM w e l WN INVENTOR WITNESSES ARTHUR E. enses, oF WYANDOTT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. v17', 1907. j

Application filed J une 2. 1906. Serial No. 319.870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. GIBBs, of W vandotte, Wayne county, Michian, have invented a new and useful Electro tic Cell, of which thefollowing is a full, c ear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification7 inwhich- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an electrolytic cellconstructed in accordance with my invention; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detailviews showing modiiications of the diaphragm construction; Fig. 5 is adetail view of. the anode and Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified formof diaphragm support.

' My invention relates to the class of electrolytic cells havingdiaphragme, and particularly to those arranged for wet electrolysis,such as the electrolysis of alkaline chlorids.

The object of the invention is to reduce theexpense oi operation, toincrease the output, and also make the cells longer lived.

. A further object is to provide a cell which may be cheaply and easilymade, and can also be readily re aired or renewed.

An important eature of my invention consists in Jforming the cathode asametal jacket surrounding the diaphragm, said metal jacket having anumber of inner projections orpoints facing and preferably embedded inVthe diaphragm.

It further Vconsists in the above construction wherein the cathode isrovided with holes or passages through or a ong which the products ofelectrolysis may be forced into the cathode chamber, and thus out of thesphere of electrolytic action.

The invention further consists in an improved feed device for theliquor, in a constant indicator for the level of the liquid in the cell,and also in the construction and arrangement of the cell and its arts ashereinafter more fully described an( claimed.

In the drawings, I show the cell as comrising an outer vessel 2 which mabe of sheet steel or of any other desirable material. This .vessel isprovided with an annular ilange 3 around its top on which rests theprojecting annular ring portion 4 of the cathode.

The cathode and dia hragm are preferably built up as follows: A oWerdisk 5 is preferably provided with an upwardly-projecting ange 6 ofsubstantially the same diameter as the flange 7 on the ring 4. The ring4 and the disk 5 may consist of iron castings, or

l may be of earthenware, or any other desirable material; if made ofiron the inner portions orthose subject to action of anode liquor should`be insulated, enameled or otherwise protected. Around the registeringflanges 6 and 7 I form a barrel consisting of the permeable diaphragmSaround which A ode. The diaphragm may be formed of asbestos or anysuitable permeable material which is not attacked bythe liquid. It ispreferably' formed with walls which graduis the metal jacket 9 whichforms the cathally decrease in thickness from the bottom toward the toso that the difference in ermeability sha1 substantially correspon tothe di'lerence in hydrostatic pressures. The jacket may consist of asheet of steel or other suitable metal, which is provided witha seriesof projections on one face. This sheet may be wra ped around thediaphragm; or may be ma e inthe form of a cylinder or jacket which isslipped over the diaphragm. VIf the cathode, is formed of sheet metalwra ped around the diaphra m it may be hel 1n place by clamping ban s orany other suitable securing device.

I prefer to` provide the jacket-like cathode either with a series ofholes or passages eX- tending throu h it, or with vertic ally-extendingpassages etween the cathode and the diaphra m. The iirst form may beobtained of--the cathode through which the products may rise or fall andbecarried out of the electrolytic region. In Figs. 3 and 4, I show acorrugatedcathode whlle in Figs. land 2, is shown a lip slot. l

The anode preferably consists of a series of carbon rods 1() arrangledin annular form and projecting through t e dome 11 which may rest uponan annular recess in the ring 4.

These anodes are preferably square or angular in cross-section except attheir tops which are cylindrical for the threading at joint with cover.The positive wires or connections lead to these anodes, while thenegative wire leads from the cell jacket to which the cathode isconnected .by a series'of suitable coni nections 12 extending throughthe cathode compartment. The dome is preferably provided with a gas`outlet 13 and also with a ring or suspending device 14 which may beengaged by a crane or hoisting device to lift out the anode.

In case the ring 4 is of metal provided with insulation between it andthe dome 11, I may band the cathode thereto, in which case the jvlres12, 12 are not necessary. The ring -l 1s also preferably provided witheye-bolts or suspending devices 15 which may be engaged by an over-headcrane to lift out the cathode and diaphragm, or both the cathode andanode. A

16 is the outlet pipe for the liquid cathode products, while 17 is agaseous outlet to allow escape of any gasin the cathode compartment.

For feeding the solution to the cell I preferably employ avertically-adjustable cup 18 which is carried on a bracket 19secured to.the casing 2. v,

20 is the inlet pipe feeding solution into the cup while 21 is aflexible rubber tube connected to a pipe 22 within the cup having 'alateral inlet at one side. The fiexible tube 21 leads through the bottomof the casing 2 and through the disk 6 being held by the clampconnection 23, The cup is provided With an over-flow pipe 24 whichmaintains a substantially constant level in the cup; and the inlet tothis pipe is also lateral and protected from dropping of solids into it.

As shown in Fig. 1, I preferably employ a continuous visual indicator toshow the height of liquid in the cell. In the form shown, this consistsof a tube 25 which is closed at the top and open at the bottom andextends above the dome far enough to allow the stem 26 of the float 27to be seen. This -stern'extends below the dome a sufficient distance tohold the same inyertical adjustnient, and the float 27 resting on theliquid indicates by the position of the stem 26 the .level of the liquidwithin the cell.

In the operation of the cell, the solution to be treated is fed into thecup at a faster rate than it is passed through the cell. The overfiowfeeds out through pipe 24 and the solution feeds into the anodecompartment of the cell through the flexible tube. By adjusting theheight of the cup I can adjust the feed S0 as to give the bestefficiency in different stages of the life of the cell. As the solutionpasses outwardly through the diaphragm, Where alkaline chlorids aretreated, the caustic will form upon the rojections or points of thecathode. The bu k of the electrolysis takes place at these voints orproj ections, and as the caustic is ormed, the flow of electrolytecarries it outwardly through the holes in the cathode and y.out of theregion of electrolytic action. By thus carrying away the caustic as itis formed, I avoid l decomposing of the caustic itself, and increase theefficiency of the cell.

In the case of the cathode having the vertical passages, the liquid willflow either up or down or' alone these passages and obtain 70 the sameresult 0I carrying away the products as they are formed. In both casesthe electric current will flow mainly to the points orv g projectionsembedded in the diaphragm, and

there will be little or no electrolytic action in 7'5 the valleys orportions more remote from the anodes. v

The advantages of my invent-ion result particularly from the cathodehaving points or projections enterin the diaphragm. Msc from the use ofo -take channels `for the product in connection with these embeddedpoints or projections. The adjustable cup enables me to adjust the flowto give the best efficiency and this will'of course vary to some extentduring the life of the cell. By'embedding the points or projections ofthe cathode in the, diaphragm,` I produce electro-4 lytic action atseparated points or places, while allowing the products to passimmediately into an inactive region. By using this pecailiar diaphragmand jacket cathode with embedded points, I can maintain substantiallythe same permeability for an indefinite period. IVith an ordinarydiaphragm, its filtering action will cause its permeability to radua-Ilydecrease owing to clogging; but I nd that my diaphragm builds up to someextent on the innerside, While it' disintegrates to some extent on theouter side, owing to the gas evolved at the points or projections. Thisdouble action goes on substantially continuously, and keeps thepermeability approximately constant. This is of great commercialimportance, as it enables the operation t'o be carried on with littleattention, and

lconsequently one operator can attend to a very large number of cells.The varying thickness ofthe diaphragm at different levels also gives auniform action throughout the whole cathode. The adjusting ofthecellwill enable 'the operator to compensate for any clogging, if suchtakes place, although as above stated, such action hardly everoccurs,ifat all, in my s vstem. My improved 115 cathode prevents the estructiveeffect of the l small percentage of hypo-chlorit-e,l which is present inthe filial liquor of ordinary cells. The intimate contact between theliquor comino' from 'the anode compartment and the 120 catho( e pointsinsures a complete action of the nascent hydrogen at such points, thus,effectively destroying all hypo-chlorite. The adjustable inlet cupaffords a simple and effective way of regulating the strength of thesolution The anode or cathode may be easily removed and replaced, andthe cell may be cheaply and easily made, While its efficiency isremarkably high.

Instead of the upper ring .and lower disk phragm would be placed.

for the diaphragm and cathode I may form a perforated cylinder 28 with abottom 29 and with upper flanges around which the diaj v The cathode maybe made either of sheet metal or of cast metal, and either in one ormoreparts; the joint between the anodes and the cover may be varied so longas a tight joint is obtained, and the form of the anode may be changed.The materials of the different parts may also be varied, the diaphragmmay be of other forms in cross-section than cylindrical, and othervariations may be. made without departing from my invention.

I claim:-

1. In electrolytic apparatus, a diaphragm and a cathode havingprojections embedded in said diaphragm substantiallyas described.

2. In electrollytic apparatus, a diaphragm and a metallic jacketsurrounding the diaphragm and forming the cathode, said jacket avingprojections embedded in the diaphragm; substantially as described.

3. In electrolytic apparatus, a diaphragm and acathode havingprojections embedded in the diaphragm, said projections having outletchannels for the products of electrolysis, substantially as described.

4. In electrolytic apparatus, a permeable diaphragm, a cathode havinghollow projections extending within the wall of the diaphragm, the innerends of the projections forming outlet channels for the products ofelectrolysis; substantially as described.

5. In electrolytic apparatus, a diaphragm, and a cathode havingprojections entering the diarhragm, said cathode having outlet channe sfor the products of electrolysis; substantially as described. 4

6. In electrolytic apparatus, a diaphragm, and a cathode havingprojections entering the diaphragm, said cathode having holes to allowpassage therethrough of the products of electrolysis; substantially vasdescribed.

7. In electrolytic apparatus, top andbottom rings, a hollow permeablelfiltering diaphragm, and a jacket cathode clamping the diaphragm to therings, said cathode having .projections entering the diaphragm;substantially as described.

8; In electrolytic apparatus,top and botl tom rings, a hollow diaphragmpermeable as a filter clamped to the rings and forming a surroundingwall, and a perforated jacket cathode having inwardly projecting wallsaround the perforations, said walls entering the face portion of thediaphragm; substantially as described.

` 9. In electrolytic apparatus, a cylindrical anode compartment, andanodes having an independent support carried on said compartment;substantially as described.

10. In electrolytic apparatus, a container, a cathode and diaphragmwithin the container arranged to form an anode compartthereof, wherebythey may be lifted indement, said .cathode having suspending devices bywhich it may be lifted from ,the container, and anodes depending intothe anode compartment and supported independently 7 0 pendently;substantially as described.

11. In electrolytic apparatus, an insulated dome covering the anodechamber and having anodes depending from it, said dome beingsupporteddirectly upon an upper ring of the anode vessel; substantially asdescribed.

12. In electrolytic apparatus, a separate feed cup having a tube leadinginto the anode compartment, and a vertically-adjustable sup ort forvsaid cup; substantially as descri ed.

13. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having a vertically-adjustablebracket mounted thereon, a feed cup supported on the bracket, and a pipeor connection leading from the feed cup to the anode compartment;substantial y as described.

14. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having a verticallyadjustablebracket mounted thereon, a feed cup supported on the bracket, and a pipeor flexible connection leading from the feed cup to the anodecompartment; substantially as described.

15. In electrolytic apparatus, a feed cup having an inlet, an over-flow,and L pipe leading to the anode compartment and a vertically-adjustablesupport for said cup arranged to vary the hydrostatic pressure of theliquor; substantially as described.

16. In electrolytic apparatus, a cathode 1'00 compartment containing adiaphragm of less thickness in its upper portions than in its lowerportions; substantially as described.

`17. In electrolytic apparatus, a diaphragm having upwardly-taperingWalls; substantially as described.

18. An electrolytic apparatus having a closed upper chamber with atransparent portion, and an indicator float in the anode compartmentvisible through said transparent portion; substantially as described.

19. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having an upwardly projectingclosed tube formed at least in part of transparent material, and a floatin the anode compartment having an upwardly projecting portion withinthe tube and visible through its transparent ortion; substantially asdescribed.

20. n electrolytic apparatus, a tube extending Within the cell and abulb tube Within this tubel arranged tovindicate the level of theliquid; substantially as described.

21. In electrolytic apparatus, a vertically extending tube open at itslower end, and a float projecting into thel tube and having an l 25. Inanelec-trolytic apparatusmcathode,

l a eover support for anodes independent of scribed. the anode.compartment, and a container, 15 23. In eleetirolytie apparatus, aiiietallie said cover and cathode being arranged tro b'e 5 eathodehaving projections, and a diaphragm l lifted out of said Container;substantially as' electrode embracing the. Cylinder and snugly iittiiigthe depressions, substantially as deincontaot with and supported by saidprodescribed. .1e/ations; substantially as described. In testiinonTwhereof, I have hereunto set 24. In eleetrolytie apparatus, a separateiiiyliaiid. feed eup having a tube leading into t-lie anode? l ARTHUR E.GIBBS.

10 compartiment, and a support for the eup ai- 5 Witnesses:

ranged for adjusting t-he eup to different ANNA RUSSOW.

levels; substantially as described. FLOR-ENCE E. ROFTER.

